On New Florida

Kovak navigated to New Florida and the ship passed close by Daytona, an inhabited ice ball.  New Florida itself was a fairly new human settlement. From orbit, it was clear that New Florida was a water world with small chains of islands here and there.

Alex docked at the orbital space station in Berth 4.  This station was relatively new, with some of the paint still wet inside.  The living quarters had been recently expanded. They were instructed to go to Customs on arrival, between Berths 2 and 3. There was a garishly painted purple ship docked at Berth 3.  Bletherin, Grrr, Kovak and one of Alex’s droids went to Customs.

The Customs Office

The Customs Office was occupied by a middle-aged human.  He inspected the manifest and inquired about biological cargo.  Bletherin said that they had luxury foods and plants from Loranis.  He was instructed to leave the plants sealed on the ship.  Bletherin told him that they were hoping to sell medical supplies, and provided the inventory. And they were told that anything that had to go to the planet would have to be inspected.

The Customers Officer was bored.  Kovak asked if there was any news of interest. The officer mentioned the ugly purple ship.  Lord Henry Petsworth was memorable to Kovak as a playboy in his youth, who had an adult daughter that he was estranged from.

Grendel’s Wanderings

Almost everyone on the station was human, except fro one lonely Harth. Grendel was challenged by a female human engineer. He told her that he was looking for an ultrasonic inhibitor to repair the waste management system with.  She advised hm to see a used parts dealer in the Promenade.

The human queried Grendel about his travels.  He said that they had just arrived from Loranis. They discussed how primitive the space station there was.  She mentioned that she was stuck on the station until her dad said she was old enough to take a ship out. She was angling for passage out, but was not inclined toward the purple ship, which suggested new money. Grendel left her to go to the indicated stall in the Promenade.

Checking In

Alex connected to the station network and used a secure channel to report in.  He got an almost immediate response for the senior personnel to meet at Joe’s for breakfast in the morning.  Joe’s was located on the station. The transmission provided a picture of the contact.

He also uploaded the mission logs and other details.

At the Irish Pub

There were two bars on the station. They elected not to go to the one with the animatronic famingoes and plastic palm trees. Instead they went to the one attempting to be an Irish pub, Shamrocks. As soon as Bletherin, Grrr, and Kovak sat at a table, the band walked in and started playing. The waitress brought a drink list and menus, and they ordered food and drink.

Kovak noticed the bartender cutting off someone, who left after saying some words. Then Lord Henry Petsworth, the purple dude, walked in and immediately recognized Kovak.  He walked up and told her that she looked like someone he used to know. He asked about her mother. Kovak told him that she had not been in contact with her mother in some time. He told her that he had tried to contact her through her guild to no avail. He asked her to send her his regards and went to the bar to receive a purple drink that was waiting for him.

They stayed there all night.

Used Parts

The designated shop was located in a less than reputable section of the station. There was a thrift store targeting tourists where unpleasant clothing was slightly more expensive than other colors. The parts were of varied quality and utility. Grendel look for exotic parts. He did not find anything alien, but he did find a lift modulator that would be usable for his skybike project after some refurbishment. 

The proprietor took interest in what he suggested to himself for using various things for. He asked if Grendel had anything that he was looking to unload.  Grendel declined. The shopkeeper said that the rumple ship was the only ship of interest recently, aside from a bulk freighter that seemed suspicious and was bound for Loranis. He mentioned that land on planet was still relatively cheap, so a lot of rich people came to look.

The shopkeeper mentioned that there were rumors of ships disappearing. He mentioned ships that Grendel was already aware of. He wished that the Enforcers would take care of it (so long as they stayed away from him). Grendel made some purchases and arranged for delivery in exchange for in-system gossip before returning to the ship.

At Joe’s

In the morning, Bletherin, Grrr, and Kovak found their way to the greasy-spoon wannabe called Joe’s. The place clearly catered to the locals, as most of the patrons appeared to be station personnel. They noted the call sign from their contact and joined him in a high-sided booth. Alex noted that all frequencies except the link to the crew were jammed.

The contact asked about trade.  Bletherin mentioned experimental drugs that might be of interest. He told the contact that teh targets were interested in “horse embryos” in hopes af creating a “breed of strong, white, race horses” and that they were going to Canan “to see what the market was like.” Bletherin asked if there was someone available who was interested in those things. The contact suggested a human on Mentra who would fit the bill.  He said he was interested in seeing “how fast the horses” were when the Bad Wolf returned to New Florida.  

The contact also mentioned that a small luxury liner had disappeared on the way to Estra to engage in illicit vice activities.

Preparing for Departure

They sold the experimental medicine and looked for cargo. New Florida had preserved fish and beer exports. There was also used survey equipment available, which would be well received on Tarring. They also tried the waffles.

When they returned to the Alex Murphy, they noticed that the purple ship was still there.  As they left, another luxury yacht docked in the berth thata they had vacated.

On to Mentra

On arrival in system, the Alex Murphy came very close to the outermost planet, and was red hot as a result of colliding with another planet. Another ship warned them not to get too close or disrupt their scans. The crew of the other ship were clearly excited about the scientific opportunity. 

The Alex Murphy docked with the scientific station to deliver the mail and their passenger.  They were studying the collision event in preparation for attempting to prevent another collision with the only habitable planet in the system, which was not her area of interest. They also off-loaded the beer to enthusiastic customers who paid the astronomical markup.

Dr. Lorena Sylvester was the geneticist provided to them.  She was swarthy, but not saddened to leave the station. 

On to Tarring

Alex landed on Clemency station and obtained permission to proceed to the planet on a beautiful day. The planet was a religiously oriented, repressed society, and the export of “horse embryos” was a necessary source of capital for the world.

Chain of Command

  • Bletherin – Garlan (scaled hexapeds, with the front set of limbs equating to arms with four fingers, and
    the second and third having cloven hooves) Captain of the CEP Alex Murphy
  • Grrr (aka Snarl) – atypical Harth (furred mammals that resemble semi-anthropomorphic dogs) Head of Security on the CEP Alex Murphy  
  • Alex – the CEP Alex Murphy AI
  • Grendel – Heffulump (alien with multiple tactile appendages) Engineer of the CEP Alex Murphy
  • Kovak – Human Pilot of the CEP Alex Murphy